>As to mercury dangers, thermometers are used under supervision for
about
>three minutes, rarely, and contain a very small amount of mercury.

I bit a mercury in glass thermometer as a child and swallowed the
mercury, I'm told - I don't recall the event. Apparently it was all
passed through in due course - how they knew I don't know. Its done
me no harm <vbg> - those who know me well may question this :-).

        Russell McMahon